Grain washing and drying machine



GRAIN WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuznlot Jan. 5, 1932. D. GEDDES 1,839,214

GRAIN WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1.- 1927 5 Sheets-Sieet 2 Jan. 5, 193 2.

D. GEDDES GRAIN WASHINQJA'ND DRYING MACHINE Filed 'Aug. 1, 1927 ,3 sheet -sheet s jwumtq c: 0w 5.1%

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 isxazn GRAIN WASHING AND DRYING, MACHINE 13 2 Application filed Aug'ust' 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,913.

This invention relates to an improvement 1n horizontal gram washing and drylng 'machmes. One of the princlpal ObJGCtS of the invention is to provide a machine of this scoured by beaters strongly held to rotate in "character wherein the grain, principallywheat, is thoroughly washed, scoured, aerated, cleaned and dried, so as to-be properly conditioned and prepared for tempering for milling purposes, with a minimum amount of breakage and loss of grain.

. Another object is to provide a machine of this character in which all smut, wildonion,

dirt and the like are freed from the grain during and by virtueof the, operation provided, by keeping open the perforated metal pores of the machine by air force while the grain is in the process of being washed and a circular path thereby overcoming the tendency of centrifugal force to throw the beaters closer to the case at some places than at others.

A further object resides in the provision .of a machine having these advantages, which -is of simple construction and durability, reliable and efiiClGIlb in operation, and in relation to capacity and cost, economlcal in the consumption of power for the amount of grain treated and inexpensive" to manufad ture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construct on, arrangement and combination of parts which 35 will be hereinaftermore fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference beinghad to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, part of the shellbe' 40 .ing broken away;

,Fig. 2 1s a sectional elevation on plane 2-2 ofFig.1;- Fig. 3 is an end view ,of the front-end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a section on plane 4' 4 of Fig.1- of the delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the manner of controlling the air supply at each end of the machine; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan'and perspective view of the beater construction.

' casting 1 or 2 (Fig. can be removed by sliding it longitudinally,

The machine, as a whole, comprises a cylindrical shell having mounted therein an axially arranged'power driven shaft on which aremounted near each end fans for forcing air into the inside ofthe shell, this shaft having also mounted'thereon longitudinal beaters arranged to move in a clrcular path 1n close proximity to the cylindrical shell. The

machine as a whole may be considered as divided into two imperforate end sections and anintermediate section having a perforatedbottom.

The grain mlxed with an adequate amount of water is introduced into the imperforate section atone end of the machine and the :washed and dried grain is delivered atfthe other end. The rapidly revolving heaters throw the grain as it passes through themachine towards the inside-of the shell, along which it moves as'a thin layer until it is de livered washedby the water and dried by the airQat the end of the machine.

The machine comprises suitable end cast- 7 ingsl and 2 having legs '55. 'To these end castings is secured the shell of the machine, which'is preferably made in sections. 7

Referring to Fig; 4, which shows one of the two end. sections, both beingof the same general construction, 6 is an imperforate metal ring havlng a sheet steel lining 7, the

ring beingbraced by ribs .3, and secured to theend casting 2. a

Extending into each of the end sections (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5) is a tube 8, bolted. to the end casting, sleeve valve 9, which can be moved in and out by screws 10 and wing nuts 11, mounted 'on the bearingplate 12, bolted to the end 1). The bearing cap 13 an opening in the plate 12 being left'for that purpose. The bearing plate 12 is bolted to 1 offsets'l5 on the ribs 14 and is'thus offset from the end casting leaving an opening 16 trolled. v V

The central section 18, located between the two-end sections is made up of an upper imand within this tube is a I betweenthe front plate 17 and the bearing plate 12 (see Fig. 5). By moving the sleeve valve 9, the air supply can be completely-0on p perforate panel 19, preferably'having a sheet steel Wear lining 20, this imperforate lining extending through about one-third of the circumference of the shell. The remaining two-thirds is made up of panel frames 4 carrying perforated metal screens 21. Mountedon-the .shaftA-O at .theinside end of the airitubes 8, arespiderfiarmQQ, carrying at their outer ends heaters 23 (shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7). The beaters23are which the grain mixed with water is introduced into the machine.

When the grain is merely dampened, it is desirable to provide additional openings 33, covered by plates, when not in use.

As shown in Fig. 4, a delivery spout 35 is connected ..to .a suitable opening in the end section of the shelL-iMOunted in thijs spout is a pivoted valve 36, having an arm 37 which carries'a weight 38. By adj usting the Weight rovided with lu s 9A throu h whih' ass on the *arm the rateat .which the rain flows bolts for securing the heaters to the spider arms 22. The heaters, as shoiwin Tigr6and- 7, are made up of connected sections,-some of which are in a plane at an angle to the axis of -the1 machine, so .thatas ethey rotate, the grain is conveyedrfrom-ithaentrance; to thex ezritaendof ithemachinm -.These sectionsiarez spacedrby webs 25,i-a rranged-.-to providerat their::uppenends "spaces 26,-. throu'ghcwhich-t tionsimayibe, and-preferably are; as shown,

made :las 1a singleipiec'e: integral structure,

25 @uchras :asteel casting,=oi' vthe iheater may he i to form a single integral structure..-aEach... beateraeXtends-as :a whole -1n a stra ght line arallel to the *ELX1SsDf tllQJililQlllIiB between lie-spider arnrs 212 located as shown in 1. l The. beaterse'are secured :to \theuspiderv..

arms :hyiboltsior rivets passingsthrouglr lugs 2441 iguf .1 rAs-theseheaters rotateat high-a Subjected: to 'considerable centrifugal eforce,

andms :they :rotate in :close proximity. :to the-:

shell, it is essential that =meansibeiprovidedm to rigidly; ho-ldithe :beatersrrin position. Ac

cordingly-II provide iguyarods' 27; arrangee 40 as .sh'olwn-in These reds are. sec-uredinachinertheie rare: :preterabl'y;provided steel videcl-'fans:fo1"forcinglair 'intoi the'inside: of

1s lpriw d l iani t g iflw g u enables thezoperator to icontrol lthe moisture.

wear-p'lalieQQmJtheEWear plate atthe entrance end of the machine (left hand; oirEiignG) :lQG-J ing preferably inclinecl as ShOWIII'Z. The :intermediate sections 015 a each. beater may 'ials'o eprovided -witlr' wear plates :i-f it is. found to be desirable 1"- At "each end of the 'ma'chine and i'n 'proximity to the endshf the air-tuhes-8a re pro- For this purpose; there is bolted-to the spider arms 22,'a ring 30,.to whichare rivet= ed thelcurved fan blades 31.v As shown, thei ends Qof .theLspidrarms 22, and: the ringEl), y thusferm'mga strongzand. compact. construe tion.

Asshewn-an 1F igs; l. and 8, thetront plate out can be controlled, while at the same time BXIt" of 'a 1r-1s prevented.

This end section might be made, partly at least, of perforated material, but I prefer to makeit imperorate, .as lfindthatlundcr the i conditions 7 of op erati on existing. n i this endisection, there 1s a further: scouring action;

flowed-eintoithe. imperforate end. section V of 39,--39.- are;plates,extending ..from .endto V endnoftheimac-hine, to :direct vthel'material passinglthrouglnthe T'perforations in the sheila to a:suitable-collectingmeans.

In-operatiom-thewheat,,.or other: grain to be washed ,and dried, mixed with .a. suitahle I c quantity of water -.(e. .in somerases, 15".

made in sectionswhichiare w g th gallonssot. water to a bushel. or:,wheat)..i-s

the tmachinethrouglnthe Qpen-ingBQJ-QIt is there-caught up'bythe heaters and tho'rough-w ly .washeda-in this imperforate:rsection, the? whole vmass bein gthrown out by the icentriiiie gal, action. towards the vinside of the .shell. 7.;

The gra-inds by fimpa'ctwith the heaters thorn:

oughl-y cleaned=i- TheiwholeL-mass of water, grain and scour-v ings then passes intothecentral perforated. section of the machine, where the W2Ll11..L5 I

permittedio escape,throughsthe perforated screen.-.- It @111 be notedithatit is impossible for ianycgrrain, which may fall into the central portionof themachine, to pass out through; 1 thetube 8, as .it would there meet the income-.1 1ng1d-rattof air to 'lEhQiEZUlw II1JQI'EtClJ1CG, the.

- greater portionvof .the; water is removed -in c the first foot or two of its passage over the. perforated zscreen, so that the grain becomes drier andtdriermas it pregresses .througlrthe,

machine. At. the isame-tim'e ,a strong current of airsis .drivenei'nto each end: of themachine-by the.

fanswTlieainnis suckedein by the action of the fans through the ;openings 16 (see Figsl.

and? 5') afntltubes-S leading to the eye oflthe ,fan in an amount which can be controlled.

by the eval-ves \9. J

The forcible air current not only dries and aerates :thewheat, huthyitsi pressure tends to force the water carrying the: scouring-gs,

. with it outithrou lrthecreen-perfor ion lu 'sfl ls-ofstheboatersiexten b u i l d between we thus tendin'gnto keep theionenings freer It section. The control of the air supplxus an.

important featureof 1 my invent-i on, since conditions, as may be desired. Thus soft wheat, or such wheat as readily absorbs moisture, may need more air to dry it to the extent desired than a harder wheat. The air at the entrance end of the machine, coming into direct contact with the water is dampened while the air sucked in at the delivery end is dry air and comes into contact with already partly dried grain, and as both sources of air supply are under control, the conditions can be exactly adjusted to meet the particular requirements.

The grain after passing through the central section of the machine passes into the end section which may be imperforate, and is delivered through the valve-controlled spout whereby is provided another control means both for the rate of grain delivery and to prevent exit of air. The operator can thus by proper adjustment of these several control devices, accurately adjust the machine, to not only remove the adhering dirt, smut, wild onion and the like, but deliver the grain with a determined amount of moisture.

For convenience the machine has been referred to as divided into end sections and a central section, since a separate operation is performed in each so-called section. Thus the end section at the entrance end ofthe machine, is a practically closed annular chamber whose inner wall is the tube 8, the outer wall is the imperforate ring 6, the front end wall is the casting 1, and the other end wall is formed by the rotating fan ring to which are connected the heaters, the ends of which project into this practically closed an nular chamber. In this section the principal washing is effected. In the other end section the operation is to scour and polish the grain.

It will be understood that the drawings illustrate one specific form of machine, but obviously my invention includes changed constructions, such as an increase in length or diameter of the machine, the use of a greater or less number of beaters, or other niodifications within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. The methodof washing and drying grain which consists in washing and scouring the grain by forcible impact in the pres ence of water, delivering the mass of water, grain and impurities into a closed chamber in which it is subjected while under continued forcible impact to the action of a forcible air current, removing the water and impurities and then further scouring the grain by impact in the absence of water in a closed chamber under maintained air pressure. a

2. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing having imperforate end portions and anintermediate portion, ashaft extending through the casing, longitudinally extending axially inclined beaters mounted on said shaft and extending -machines comprising end portions and inclined intermediate portions, the portions beinto proximityfto said casing, openings in each end of the casing, tubes extending from such openings into the casing, and fans located aboutthe ends of said tubes and arranged to force air into the casing, the intermediate portion of the casing having a perforated bottom. a

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the tubes-are provided with valves to control the air supply. 1 A

4. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending therethrough, longitudinally extending beaters, spider arms connected to said heaters and to said shaft and guy-rods connecting saidbeaters intermediate said spider arms.

5.--A machine as claimed in claim l in which the guy-rods are cross-connected to alternate boaters. V

6. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending therethrough, longitudinally extending beaters connected to and carried by said shaft, each beater comprising end portions and longitudinally extending intermediate portions inclined to the axis of said shaft, the portions being connected by webs of less depth than the said end portions and intermediate portions.

7 .A beater for grain washing and drying machines comprising end portions and in clined intermediate portions and reinforcing plates on said end portions.

8. A beater for grain washing and drying ing connected by webs of less depth than the said end portlons and inclined intermediate portions.

. 9. A beater for grain washing and drying machines comprising end portions, inclined intermediate portions and connectin web portions, and spaced lugs on said heater adapted to serve as'connections for supporting arms and guy-rods. V

10.. A machine forwashing and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending t erethrough, two sets of spider arms having beaters secured thereto,rings also supported on said spider arms andfanblades secured to said rings, and means for conducting the air through the openings in said rings.

11. A. machine" for washing. and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending therethrough, two setsof spider arms having" beaters secured thereto, rings also supported on said .spiderfarms and. fan blades secured to said rings andvalve controlled means for conductingthe air through the openings in said rings. V I I 12. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending th'erethrough, a fan having annularly arranged blades mounted on said shaft, and

means for introducing air into the. eye of a fan comprising a front plate havingan opening therethrough a bearing plate spaced from said front plate to provide an opening therebetween, a tube extending from said plate to the fan and a valve for controlling said opening. 7

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 in which the valve consists of a sleeve within the tube and adjustable means for moving said sleeve to control the size of the opening.

14. In machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing having a shaft eX- tending therethrough, two sets of spider arms mounted on said shaft and spaced from the ends of the casing, said spider arms carrying at their outer ends annular fans and bea-ters extending longitudinally the length of the casing, tubes for admitting air extending into and of the same diameter as the eyes of the fans, thereby dividing the interior of the casing into three sections, opening for introducing grain and water into the first section, said section having out r imperforate walls, the second section ha its lower portion formed as perforated screen, and the third section having a delivery spout.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 14 in which the air tubes and the delivery spout are provided with adjustable valves.

16. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing having end portions and an intermediate portion having a perforated bottom, a shaft extending through the casing longitudinally extending heaters mounted on said sh aft and extending in proximity to said casing, openings in each end of the casing, tubes Xtending from said openings into the casing, and fans located about the inner ends of said tubes and valves cooperating with said tubes to control the air supply.

17. A machine for washing and drying grain comprising a casing, a shaft extending therethrough, longitudinally extending beat-- ers arranged to extend into proximity to said casing, each beater comprising end portions and an inclined intermediate portion, the portions being connected by webs of less depth than the beater portions, and spider arms mounted on said shaft to which arms the heaters are secured.

18. A machine for washing and drying grain as claimed in claim 17 having guy rods connecting said heaters intermediate said spider arms.

19. A machine as claimed in claim l in which the guy-rods form triangular trusses and are connected to alternate heaters.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

DAVID GEDDES. 

